LIGHT THERAPY DEVICE
A light therapy device includes a main body, a light-emitting portion and a power supply unit. The light-emitting portion is disposed on the main body. The light-emitting portion has a first light source. The first light source provides light with a specific wavelength and with an energy ranged from 0.01 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2. The power supply unit is electrically connected to the main body, and is configured for providing the light-emitting portion with electric power. The light therapy device is used to irradiate teeth and periodontal cells, which can accelerate regeneration of teeth bone cells and gum tissues and inhibit bacteria, thereby achieving the therapeutic effect.
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The present invention relates to light therapy devices, and more particularly to a light therapy device used for treating periodontal diseases.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany modern people suffer from periodontal diseases. Generally, periodontal tissues include gum and alveolar bone, that is, periodontal tissues are the structure around a tooth. Its role is like a foundation of a building, and the tooth is like a main body of the building. The periodontal diseases can be compared to the foundation breaking down, although the main body of the building has no problem, the building may collapse at any moment because continuous loss of debris leads to stagger of the building.
Periodontal diseases can be substantially divided into two stages in accordance with the severity. In the initial stage, the periodontal disease is gingivitis, that is, inflammation is confined to the gum, which usually refers to tissues around the teeth turn very red or even swell. When the sufferer brushes his/her teeth, the swelling gum may be bloody. If the gingivitis is not treated, the gingivitis will be easily converted to periodontitis (i.e., periodontal disease) after a long time. By the medical research, it is known that, the periodontal diseases are mainly caused by plaques in tooth necks. When the plaques begin to release toxins, the supporting tissues around teeth will be violated by the toxins. These bacteria causing the periodontal disease multiply in large quantities, which will result in pain of the gum. When the periodontal disease become very serious, the gum will fester. If there is not any treatment, the periodontal disease will continuously worsen, and the bone of teeth will gradually lose. As a result, the teeth begin to shake, and then fall off one by one.
In traditional dental technology for treating periodontal diseases, substantially, the purpose is to reduce oral bacteria and decrease inflammation phenomenon of periodontal tissues (gum, periodontal ligament and so on). Generally, oral bacteria are scraped off, and antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. A method for scraping off oral bacteria is to use a laser. Since the laser with a high energy is selected, teeth or periodontal tissues may be damaged when treating. After the traditional treatment, because of detumescence of the gum, the gum will atrophy, teeth root will be exposed, and the teeth are sensitive to cold and heat and so on.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a light therapy device. The light therapy device has light with a specific wavelength and a specific energy. The light is used to irradiate teeth and periodontal cells. The light stimulation can accelerate regeneration of the teeth bone cells and gum, and inhibit the activity of periodontal bacteria, so as to achieve a therapeutic effect.
To achieve at least one of the above-mentioned advantages, the present invention provides a light therapy device which includes a main body, a light-emitting portion and a power supply unit. The light-emitting portion is disposed on the main body. The light-emitting portion has a first light source. The first light source provides light with a specific wavelength and with an energy ranged from 0.01 joule/square centimeters (J/cm2) to 10 J/cm2. The power supply unit is electrically connected to the main body, and is configured for providing the light-emitting portion with electric power.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first light source is a light emitting diode.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 650 nm to 800 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.2 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 650 nm to 700 nm and with an energy ranged from 3 J/cm2 to 8 J/cm2.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 550 nm to 650 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.2 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 560 nm to 630 nm and with an energy ranged from 3 J/cm2 to 8 J/cm2.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 385 nm to 445 nm.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 390 nm to 420 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.2 J/cm2 to 6 J/cm2.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first light source provides infrared radiation with a wavelength ranged from 800 nm to 950 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.01 J/cm2 to 2 J/cm2.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the light-emitting portion further comprises a second light source, the second light source provides light with an energy ranged from 5 J/cm2 to 20 J/cm2.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the second light source is a light emitting diode.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the light-emitting portion is a light emitting diode capable of emitting composite light, so as to provide the first light source and the second light source.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the second light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 650 nm to 800 nm and with an energy ranged from 10 J/cm2 to 20 J/cm2.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the second light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 550 nm to 650 nm.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the second light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 385 nm to 445 nm.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the light therapy device further comprises a photodynamic antimicrobial disposed on the main body.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the photodynamic antimicrobial comprises Toluidine Blue O (TBO), porphyrins, porphyrin-derivatives, chlorine, chlorine-derivatives, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), 3,6-bis(1-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium)carbazole diiodide (BMVC), MBVC-derivatives, methylene blue (MB), actinomycin, hypocrellin, hypocrellin-derivatives, phycocyanin or phycocyanin-derivative.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the main body has a long-handled, U-shaped or sheet-shaped structure.
The light therapy device of the present invention can provide light with a specific wavelength and energy. The use of the light therapy device for treating periodontal diseases, not only can decrease the damage to teeth and periodontal cells, but also can accelerate regeneration of teeth bone cells and gum tissues and inhibit bacteria, thereby increasing the therapeutic effect.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
It is worth mentioning that, in other embodiments, the first light source can provide light with a wavelength ranged from 550 nm to 650 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.2 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2. In preferred cases, the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 560 nm to 630 nm and with an energy ranged from 3 J/cm2 to 8 J/cm2. Additionally, in other embodiments, the first light source can provide light with a wavelength ranged from 385 nm to 445 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.1 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2. In preferred cases, the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 390 nm to 420 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.2 J/cm2 to 6 J/cm2.
It should be noted that, in another embodiment, the first light source comprises one or more light emitting diode which can provide infrared radiation with a wavelength ranged from 800 nm to 950 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.01 J/cm2 to 2 J/cm2.
In the present embodiment, the second light source 215 can comprise one or more light emitting diode, but it is not limited by the present invention. In other embodiments, the light-emitting portion 212 may be a light emitting diode capable of emitting composite light, so as to provide a first light source and a second light source. The second light source 215 can provide light with a wavelength ranged from 650 nm to 800 nm and with an energy ranged from 10 J/cm2 to 20 J/cm2.
In other embodiments, the second light source can provide light with a wavelength ranged from 550 nm to 650 nm and with an energy ranged from 10 J/cm2 to 20 J/cm2. In addition, in other embodiments, the second light source can provide light with a wavelength ranged from 385 nm to 445 nm and with an energy ranged from 10 J/cm2 to 20 J/cm2. In the present embodiment, the second light source can inhibit the activity of periodontal bacteria (such as Helicobacter pylori), reduce oral bacteria and decrease inflammation phenomenon of periodontal tissues, so as to achieve a therapeutic effect of bacteriostasis.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the light therapy device further includes a photodynamic antimicrobial disposed on the main body. The photodynamic antimicrobial, for example, comprises Toluidine Blue O (TBO), porphyrins, porphyrin-derivatives, chlorine, chlorine-derivatives, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), 3,6-bis(1-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium)carbazole diiodide (BMVC), MBVC-derivatives, methylene blue (MB), actinomycin, hypocrellin, hypocrellin-derivatives, phycocyanin, phycocyanin-derivative and so on. The photodynamic antimicrobial is used together with the light source having a suitable wavelength and energy, and teeth and periodontal tissues are stimulated by light, thereby decreasing a number and the activity of the periodontal bacteria (such as Helicobacter pylori).
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It is worth mentioning that, an experiment using a low-power light emitting diode discloses that, changes of temperature caused by light energy is in a scale which the cells can endure. Therefore, when the light emitting diode is used to stimulate the cells, a significant thermal effect will not be produced to affect the performance physiology of the cells.
In summary, in the light therapy device of the present invention, light with a specific wavelength and a specific energy is selected to irradiate teeth and periodontal cells, which can stimulate proliferation of bone cells, promote the activity of bone cells to accelerate regeneration of bone, and accelerate cell differentiation in order to promote generation of bone. Additionally, the light therapy device can also stimulate hyperplasia of gum cells, promote the activity of gum cells so as to accelerate regeneration of the gum, reduce amount of bacteria in mouth, and decrease inflammation of periodontal tissues. Therefore, the use of the light therapy device of the present invention for treating periodontal diseases, not only can decrease the damage to teeth and periodontal cells, but also can accelerate regeneration of teeth bone cells and gum tissues and inhibit bacteria, thereby increasing the therapeutic effect.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
Claims
1. A light therapy device, comprising:
- a main body;
- a light-emitting portion, disposed on the main body, the light-emitting portion having a first light source, the first light source providing light with a specific wavelength and with an energy ranged from 0.01 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2; and
- a power supply unit, electrically connected to the main body, and configured for providing the light-emitting portion with electric power.
2. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source is a light emitting diode.
3. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 650 nm to 800 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.2 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2.
4. The light therapy device according to claim 3, wherein the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 650 nm to 700 nm and with an energy ranged from 3 J/cm2 to 8 J/cm2.
5. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 550 nm to 650 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.2 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2.
6. The light therapy device according to claim 5, wherein the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 560 nm to 630 nm and with an energy ranged from 3 J/cm2 to 8 J/cm2.
7. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 385 nm to 445 nm.
8. The light therapy device according to claim 7, wherein the first light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 390 nm to 420 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.2 J/cm2 to 6 J/cm2.
9. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source provides infrared radiation with a wavelength ranged from 800 nm to 950 nm and with an energy ranged from 0.01 J/cm2 to 2 J/cm2.
10. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting portion further comprises a second light source, the second light source provides light with an energy ranged from 5 J/cm2 to 20 J/cm2.
11. The light therapy device according to claim 10, wherein the second light source is a light emitting diode.
12. The light therapy device according to claim 10, wherein the light-emitting portion is a light emitting diode capable of emitting composite light for providing the first light source and the second light source.
13. The light therapy device according to claim 10, wherein the second light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 650 nm to 800 nm and with an energy ranged from 10 J/cm2 to 20 J/cm2.
14. The light therapy device according to claim 10, wherein the second light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 550 nm to 650 nm.
15. The light therapy device according to claim 10, wherein the second light source provides light with a wavelength ranged from 385 nm to 445 nm.
16. The light therapy device according to claim 1, further comprising a photodynamic antimicrobial disposed on the main body.
17. The light therapy device according to claim 16, wherein the photodynamic antimicrobial comprises Toluidine Blue O (TBO), porphyrins, porphyrin-derivatives, chlorine, chlorine-derivatives, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), 3,6-bis(1-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium)carbazole diiodide (BMVC), MBVC-derivatives, methylene blue (MB), actinomycin, hypocrellin, hypocrellin-derivatives, phycocyanin or phycocyanin-derivative.
18. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the main body has a long-handled or sheet-shaped structure.
19. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the main body is U-shaped and has an inner surface and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, the light-emitting portion is disposed on the inner surface and the outer surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 11, 2010
Publication Date: Apr 12, 2012
Applicants: (Taipei City), Jetts Technology Co., Ltd. (Taipei), (Taipei City)
Inventors: Ming-Hua Ho (Taipei City), Lu-Sheng Hong (Taipei City), Hsian-Shin Yu (Xindian City)
Application Number: 12/901,654
International Classification: A61C 3/00 (20060101);